A HAMPSHIRE MP has joined business leaders and backed a bid for increased powers to be devolved to a “southern powerhouse”.

Local authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have submitted a bid to the government for a devolution deal which would provide new powers to a combined authority in the Solent region.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership is supporting the proposals and has signed a bid to to control 100 per cent of business rates and control over spending on transport, health and social care, and skills.

Fareham MP Suella Fernandes this week voted in favour of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, which provides for power to be devolved where councils want to work together, during its committee stage in parliament.

Ms Fernandes believes the move would bring “huge opportunities” for her constituency if approved.

She said: “I welcome this new bill, which will strengthen local government based on natural alliances of areas that want to work together, rather than taking the artificial regional approach imposed by Labour in the past.

“And I’m proud to support the bid for devolution to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which our local councils are working together to achieve.

“It would provide huge new opportunities for Fareham as part of a Southern Powerhouse and I am urging ministers to give it the go-ahead.”

Hampshire is one of at least 30 councils across the UK that has handed in or is considering a devolution bid to follow the example of Greater Manchester, which was formed as a local authority in 2011.

Council leaders in Hampshire say that the plans could lead to an extra £3billion being brought into the UK’s economy every year and would bring a boost for local businesses, research and technology.

Solent LEP chairman Gary Jeffries previously told the Daily Echo that he believes devolution represents a “fantastic opportunity” to secure power and resources.

And Ms Fernandes said: “Power should be moved closer to the people, and alongside these devolution measures, local government itself should devolve more powers to communities.

“Just as the man in Whitehall doesn’t know best, the man in the town hall doesn’t always know best either.”